This is an open and unfiltered diary-style journal
on the life of James Robert Smith.
This blog will contain sometimes graphic experiences (both beautiful and ugly),
sometimes stark insight, and all honest and factual documentation of dreams, diet, activity, and thoughts.

Sunday December 24 2017

Hitting the road to Goldsboro, North Carolina to visit my dad and family. This time I drive alone. Ana still has to work until late evening and mom made plans for a dinner the next day. It’s a fairly simple drive on 58 to 95 to 795 with a PB&J, Plantain Chips, and Apple break in there somewhere. Podcasts on the history of American food keep my brain active.

Arriving at my dad’s house on Joscara. His wife, Patty, is back from Honduras. Since my dad’s been retired he’s had a lot of time to think – he tells me about how he sits up in the loft regularly looking at all the old photos and stuff. He takes down a couple photo albums that belonged to my Grandma Smith. Looking through them is like getting in a time machine.

Then, he finds his yearbook from when he graduated Columbia High School 1966. Sports was his thing – we find some cool shots of him on the baseball and basketball team.

There’s a great little introduction he wrote as a reflection of high school from his 17-year-old perspective. His high school sweetheart, Dru Davenport, signed his yearbook twice and signed her name anywhere her photo was in the book. He talks to me about some of his memories – how he used to go over to her house – they’d put on Frank Sinatra, lie on the couch, and make out for hours. This was also during the time of the civil rights movement when they started integrating blacks and whites into the same schools. Sarah Spencer [in picture] was the first black woman to graduate Columbia High School.

Reading some of these messages in his yearbook is interesting – it sheds a light onto who my dad was at this age.

Later on, the three of us walk over to the Stancill’s house and enjoy some camaraderie and drinks.

Settling in the guest room recollecting the day and photos. Finishing up writing up some Christmas cards.